We shall not be moved

Local runners putting final touches to their London Marathon preparations say they are more determined than before to run in Sunday’s event following last night’s Boston bombs.

Three people were killed and scores injured when two bombs went off alongside the home straight of the Boston Marathon, and a lot of the talk today has focussed towards the London event.

Organisers have confirmed it will go ahead and local athletes say they won’t be defeated by terrorism.

Haydn Jones, from Welshpool, and Richie Jones, from Newtown, plan to run together (pictured) with Haydn raising money for the Wales Air Ambulance and he says their plans remain unchanged.

“I watched it unfold on Sky News last night and it was truly shocking,” said Haydn who is running his ninth, and probably final, London Marathon.

“I am sure London organisers will be reviewing security in light of this terrible incident but it is all the more reason to run and show these people that we are all determined to beat the terrorists and it won’t stop us.”

Teacher Dewi Owen (left) is planning on following up his London Marathon by competing on the other side of the Atlantic at the New York Marathon later in the year. He too says it won’t deter him and is continuing to fund raise money for Save the Children ahead of the weekend.

"Obviously it is a real tragedy for those involved and of course my thoughts go out to them," he said. "London on Sunday will be a tribute to all those Boston runners and spectators and I definitely intend running."

Why not show your support by backing these local runners?

To support Haydn, sponsor forms are located in The West Brom on Severn Street.

To support Dewi, visit www.justgiving.com/Dewi-Owen1 or text ‘dewi73 £5’ to 70070.

Meanwhile, local marathon runner Andrew Davies says he was “not too happy” with his 26th place finish at the weekend’s Rotterdam Marathon. Davies, who is hoping to qualify for the Wales Commonwealth Games team for Glasgow 2014, clocked 2:26.29 but tweeted afterwards: “Not too happy about that. Legs didn’t want to know from the start. Happy to get around in the end.”